Disney Brings Story Time to the Web

Disney has already jumped into the netbook space with the Asus EeePC, and the company is now ready to tackle the digital book space.

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Disney has already jumped into the netbook space with the Asus EeePC, and the company is now ready to tackle the digital book space.

The company on Tuesday unveiled Disney Digital Books, an online repository of over 500 digitized books for children of all ages.

The content is all Disney-branded so there will be no Google Books-level copyright issues. Children can read classic stories like Pinocchio and Cinderella, as well as more current Disney offerings like Hannah Montana and High School Musical.

Parents who register on the site can take it for a spin for free, but access will then be limited to a $79.95 yearly subscription or $8.95 monthly fee. One subscription will cover access for up to three children.

Once inside, children can choose their reading level: Level One, or beginning readers who might still be reading with parents; Level Two, for kids who are ready to read more independently; and Level Three, for those who can handle chapter books.

Level Two, for example, included a 32-page book called Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure and a "Cars"-related book, called Tales from the Track. Level Three, meanwhile, had "junior novel" versions of movies like High School Musical, Bolt, and Up.

Having trouble with a book? Click on a word and the "Magic Pen" feature will pronounce the word. The "Look and Listen" option, meanwhile, will read the entire book aloud for some selections.

A dictionary feature also gives definitions from the Oxford University Press. Lest you think your child might be looking up naughty words with this feature, Disney has tailored it to only allow definitions for appropriate content.

The site also includes some social networking components, though parents can keep a pretty close watch on their children's activities. Each kid will get a "My Books" bookshelf, which will list books they're reading or have completed, bookmark pages, and allow for children to select favorites.

Children can then recommend books to friends, post a message on a friend's message board when visiting their bookshelf's, or send messages to an inbox. There is no open chat or communication on the site, however.

To find friends, kids can type in someone's display name or find people through "Readers Like Me"  suggestions that are generated based on users who have the same favorite books.

Children can earn points on the site, which they redeem for new reader leagues and badges, certificates, and special items. Earn points by answering in-book trivia questions, adding books to My Books, reading books, or suggesting books to friends, Disney said.

Chloe Albanesius has been with PCMag.com since April 2007, most recently as Executive Editor for News and Features. Prior to that, she worked for a year covering financial IT on Wall Street for Incisive Media. From 2002 to 2005, Chloe covered technology policy for The National Journal's Technology Daily in Washington, DC. She has held internships at NBC's Meet the Press, washingtonpost.com, the Tate Gallery press office in London, Roll Call, and Congressional Quarterly. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in journalism from American University...
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